User:LunaEatsTuna/Appendix:Utility symbols

Utility symbols, also known as utility markings, are used to identify and label public utility cables, pipes, wires and other connections—collectively known as "lines"—that are underground. They are usually spray painted onto the ground (be it pavement, roads, or, sometimes, grass) with a specialist-type of graffiti before forthcoming digging to warn maintenance and construction workers so they do not erroneously cause damage or destruction to any services. These services include electrical wiring, telecommunications, drainage systems and pipelines (sewage, water, gas, steam, slurry, oil); but utility symbols may also indicate survey markings.

Several symbols exist to indicate different objects and such; colours are used to denote the different types of services. The symbols themselves are variously combined letters and numbers to indicate specific functions, features or ownership. For instance, the name of the company that owns that which is marked always comes first (that is, on the left), followed by other details, i.e. measurements, watts, material types etc. The names are always abbreviated; for instance, in the United States, NG is the, VZN is , USA is the , and so forth. A new line will typically always start with the abbreviation of the company that owns it, followed by the commencement of the actual line itself.

The colours (which vary by country and will be listed below) of course alter the meaning of the symbols—for instance, in the United States, a green line is a sewage pipe, a red line is an electrical wire, and an orange line may be a broadband cable.

Example
Can you understand the image? Become native in American Utility Markese today! ;3

= WORK IN PROGRESS BELOW THIS LINE = Scaffolding

literally just the letter h
Legend: